PS3 looses “Other OS” feature with new update
Sony recently announced that the latest firmware update 3.21 will disable the ability to install and use another OS on the PS3. This news may irritate many PS3 owners that heavily rely on Yellow Dog Linux (YDL).
When the PS3 slim was released it did not have the ability to install another OS to it. It was rumored that this would eventually happen to the older PS3s. Sadly, it seems like that day is finally here.
Sony recently posted an update on the official Playstation blog announcing that firmware 3.21 will disable the other OS install feature. This will also render this ability useless for existing installs as well.
According to Sony this decision was made in light of security concerns. Could this be a direct reaction from the latest attempt by George Hotz to hack the PS3? Having a Linux partition on the PS3 does make the console more prone to getting hacked as users will be able to leverage complex tools on it.
There are companies, research institutes, and military branches that house massive PS3 server farms and still rely on Linux. These organizations that rely on the Linux call still use the operating system as long as they have no need to watch movies and play games.
Organizations continuing to use the PS3 Linux partition will not have these capabilities until they choose to do a firmware update:
- Ability to sign in to PlayStation Network and use network features that require signing in to PlayStation Network, such as online features of PS3 games and chat
- Playback of PS3 software titles or Blu-ray Disc videos that require PS3 system software version 3.21 or later
- Playback of copyright-protected videos that are stored on a media server (when DTCP-IP is enabled under Settings)
- Use of new features and improvements that are available on PS3 system software 3.21 or later
Gamers who use the Linux partition for word processing or playing retro games will be disappointed by Sony’s decision to disable this cool feature. This is a sad day indeed, especially for the YDL community.
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50 Responses to “PS3 looses “Other OS” feature with new update”
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March 29th, 2010
I dunno man, the FW drops on April fools day… Hmmmmm….
We will see I suppose!
March 29th, 2010
@SW…yeah sounds a bit sus to me.
March 29th, 2010
No big deal here.
And for retro emulation the PC/Mac is still the best!
And again there goes the hope of my friends in the Philippines to ever lay a hand on a hacked/modded PS3. They are sick and tired of playing the Wii and 360 back there. But like for Kratos, there is hope on the next PS3 price cut.
March 29th, 2010
I hope they don’t, I installed YDL on my PS3, if this patch removes it am I gonna be left with an unusable 10GB on my hard drive, or will it reformat it for me and I will lose everything.
March 29th, 2010
I couldn’t care less.
The more room they leave for the PS3 OS the better.
March 29th, 2010
This is not a feature that I ever used.
March 29th, 2010
me neither
March 29th, 2010
I dont think their going to do that,If they do , they’ll be geting their asses suied,
sony advertised the OtherOs feature to be part of the ps3.anyone who bought the Phat ps3 has a contract with sony. and if they do cripple the otherOS funcrion then that is false advertisement, and breach of contract. and that could cost them .. ..
March 29th, 2010
so….., anyone want in on a class action lawsuit ??
March 29th, 2010
This was never an advertised feature.
They can remove it legally simply by the Terms and Conditions that you accept when installing the update.
It does suck for people that used this feature which I have to imagine is under a fraction of a percent of PS3 owners.
If they need to blame someone…blame the hackers.
March 29th, 2010
phranctoast:
yea,but you have to understand that they cant just sell a product with a feature and then remove it. sure i can choose not to update but that would render my ps3 useless.and yes, I’m pretty sure that otherOs was advertised.
besides,they would have to pay alot of back taxes for all those fat ps3’s they shipped as PCs instead of game consoles,
It is actually a sort of switch and bait tactic and they can have a large lawsuit against them. This has happened many times before. Just like the verizon lawsuit where they where restricting the full features of the motorola razr. They lost the lawsuit and had to refund their customers
March 29th, 2010
“phranctoast:
yea,but you have to understand that they cant just sell a product with a feature and then remove it. ”
That is why they don’t remove BC from the software 80′s. That is what I picked up last week. If they did that they would get a call from me for sure.
In fact if anyone purchased linux for their PS3 Sony could get in trouble. Just like if I buy any PS2 games and if they removed BC I would be pissed.
March 29th, 2010
I see this just like a MMO company shutting down its servers. *you are not guarranteed to have it forever*
March 29th, 2010
But functionality of a product is not the same as a service provided by the company. An OS can sit on the PS3 for ever without support from Sony.
March 29th, 2010
yeah, but if you want to access the PSN, then you need support from Sony, and the support comes in form of a firmware update that removes some features.
March 29th, 2010
PSN is a service also. If they remove the OS thing then they can’t force any updates to play new games without backlash from anyone using the OS feature. Just like Firmware updates don’t hinder BC on the 80s. If it were legal they would have done it by now.
March 29th, 2010
I can’t see a logical argument someone can use in a lawsuit.
If someone is adept enough to install linux on their PS3, then they more than likely have a PC. It also runs slower on the PS3 due to poor optimization of the cell.
March 29th, 2010
they are getting rid of it because of the security issues, if MS got aways banning millions of consoles because they were being modded, then Sony can get away with removing one ‘non-gaming’ features.
and I dont really recall Sony adversitsing the ‘other OS’ features…Sony has been critized for not advertize everything the PS3 can do.
I dont see why will they get sued for removing a feature from their ‘owned” OS. specially since you have to option not to update
March 29th, 2010
“Sony can get away with removing one ‘non-gaming’ features.”
Sony created this feature and MS didn’t. MS probably has it in their user agreement.
“If someone is adept enough to install linux on their PS3, then they more than likely have a PC. It also runs slower on the PS3 due to poor optimization of the cell.”
But that doesn’t stop people from trying to make a fast buck. (Like Ivan)
March 29th, 2010
“I can’t see a logical argument someone can use in a lawsuit.”
Like suing McDonalds because you burned yourself on their HOT coffee. LOL
March 29th, 2010
I dont see anything against Sony with this upcoming update. PSN is a free service so Sony has all right to do what the hell they want with it, unile XBL whereas you are paying for X and Y and MS cant really get rid of them that easily
March 29th, 2010
“PSN is a free service so Sony has all right to do what the hell they want with it”
But this update is not for PSN it it a function on the PS3.
March 29th, 2010
it is PSN because if you dont update your system you wont be able to access any PSN features..I know removing the OS features is one of the string attach to it but that what it is. you have the choice not update and use the OS feature or update and get rid of it
March 29th, 2010
“you have the choice not update and use the OS feature or update and get rid of it”
They are removing this choice by restricting PSN to everyone with a different OS which is wrong.
Not that I use it but they may cause a fuss if they do.
March 29th, 2010
well…its not like I care anyways, I will be updating it no matter what
March 29th, 2010
As Kevin Butler would say.
Lets file this away as “Not a problem”!
March 29th, 2010
well i do, I’m using my Ps3 for writting cell apps,debuging mostly. so it would suck if this isn’t just an april fool.
March 29th, 2010
“well…its not like I care anyways, I will be updating it no matter what”
Same here.
March 29th, 2010
“Lets file this away as “Not a problemâ€!”
My fav one because he checks out the hot chick. LOL
March 29th, 2010
I think this is a result of the whole “PS3 is hacked” thing.
Also who the hell uses their PS3 for word processing? Even greedy MS offers Word pad for free.
March 29th, 2010
dont be so silly people this is obviously an april fools joke.playstation firmware never came out on a thursday ever so why would they start now?
March 29th, 2010
@Phran “I can’t see a logical argument someone can use in a lawsuit.”
Yeah but that’s never stopped people before.
I’m with Kev Butler…Not a problem.
March 29th, 2010
Can anyone explain to me what it is?
March 29th, 2010
Linux is a free distribution, open source operating system. Think Windows, only free.
Under the “Install other OS (operating system)”, you were able to install a Windows-like program turning your PS3 into a PC.
March 29th, 2010
the people that are complaining about it are the hackers and the ppl that wants the PS3 to be hack
March 29th, 2010
So if ts deleted then it won’t affect anything at all then?
March 29th, 2010
Of course it will affect them. My god oldschool where have you been. That feature is the best fucking thing since the invention of the ‘?’.
My god man don’t you see the world will come to a horrible fucking end if the other o/s feature is removed.
Arrggggggghhhhhhhhh.
March 29th, 2010
Could you explain what will be changed then? I don’t know much about the technical sides of things, I just play games lol.
March 29th, 2010
Basically nothing is changing.
IF you had Linux installed it wouldn’t work (or you would have to delete it?) after the update.
Since 99% of us don’t have Linux, the change won’t affect us at all. The option is just going to be removed from the XMB.
March 30th, 2010
Where the hell is CAD etc.
Their fanboy asses would have been all over this. I’m missing shooting those fuckers down in flames.
March 30th, 2010
I digress, only to point to the obvious. This sucks only for the people that have this for the CDF (Chicks Dig-it Factor)… “Oh, look at why I can do on my PS3!”.
One day it will exist. We will hold it in our hands, take pictures, make calls, play the best games, surf the super highway of information (web), but until then, we can all (even the non-technonerds) can still pull up Super Mario Bros. on our shitty laptops and show off.
If you want a do-all device now, buy an iPhone, camera, laptop, and a PS3… and throw them in the same backpack.
March 30th, 2010
Spelling mistake in the title.
Loses. Not looses.
March 30th, 2010
“word processing”
Shit what a waste of a PS3…
Freeoffice.org works well… As does Notepad++, which i use all the time. Both are free.
March 31st, 2010
Hmmm. I wonder what they will take away next. Maybe the internet, I hear there are “security concerns” sometimes with that. Maybe the “other OS” option will be a feature for PSN “Gold” in the future.
March 31st, 2010
another delusional fanboy comment by CarlB
March 31st, 2010
Weren’t you just telling me the other day about how you were using software for your PS3 that allowed you to play PC games on it roca? Looks like you won’t be able to do that any more.
March 31st, 2010
yes I will as you DO NOT need the “other OS” feature in order to play PC games on the PS3
April 1st, 2010
Great. Could you tell me how you do it then?
April 1st, 2010
That is, without a PC?
April 1st, 2010
ha i was wrong about it being an april fools joke.i think ill just shut my mouth next time lol